Apparatus for pumping gases using a chemically reactive aerosol

Abstract

An apparatus for pumping and removal of unwanted gases by effecting a chemical reaction between the gases and a highly reactive substance which is in the form of aerosol particles, to form a nonvolatile, solid reaction product. In one embodiment of the invention, the reactive substance is initially provided in the form of a solid; the solid is heated to liquify it; and the liquid is forced through spray nozzles under high pressure to form the desired aerosol particles, which then react with the gas to be pumped.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for pumping certain exhaust gases from a container therefor by converting said gases into solids by chemically reacting said gases with a chosen highly reactive substance in the form of aerosol particles, and to thereby generate a partial vacuum surrounding said solids, and provide said pumping of said exhaust gases, which comprises: (a) a chamber having first and second openings therein;   (b) means adjacent said first opening of said chamber for providing the influx of said exhaust gases from said container into said chamber through said first opening in said chamber,   (c) an antechamber adjacent said second opening of said chamber, to contain said reactive substance in solid form and having first and second openings therein;   (d) means adjacent said antechamber for heating said antechamber to raise the temperature therein sufficiently to liquefy said solid;   (e) means associated with said first opening of said antechamber and said second opening of said chamber, for dispersing said liquefied reactive substance into said aerosol particles; and   (f) means associated with said second opening of said antechamber for applying a chosen inert gas to said liquefied reactive substance under pressure sufficient to cause said substance to flow through said dispersing means to form said aerosol particles and to inject said aerosol particles into said chamber through said second opening in said chamber.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for converting certain exhaust gases as set forth in claim 1 wherein item (e) further includes one or more nozzles through which said liquefied reactive substance is forced by said inert gas to form said aerosol particles. 
     
     
       3. A pump for removing a selected gas from a container therefor by converting said gas to a solid which comprises a first chamber having a first opening therein for receiving said gas and a second opening therein which is spaced from said first opening; a second, smaller chamber adjacent said second opening in said first chamber and operative to receive a chosen highly reactive solid material; means adjacent said second chamber for converting said highly reactive solid into a liquid; and means between said first and second chambers and aligned with said second opening in said first chamber for injecting said liquid into said first chamber in the form of an aerosol spray where said aerosol spray reacts with said gas to form a solid reaction product which deposits on the inner surfaces of said first chamber and to generate a partial vacuum in said first chamber and thereby provide for said removing of said selected gas from said container. 
     
     
       4. The pump defined in claim 3 wherein said injecting means includes a plurality of nozzles between said first and second chambers and providing a plurality of liquid flow paths between said first and second chambers; and said converting means includes a heater adjacent said second chamber for heating said highly reactive solid to a predetermined elevated temperature, whereby a selected inert gas may be passed into said second chamber under pressure to force said liquid through said plurality of flow paths between said chambers and convert said liquid to said aerosol spray in said second chamber and having a controlled particle diameter. 
     
     
       5. A pump for removing a selected gas from a container therefor by converting said gas to a solid, which comprises a first chamber having a first opening therein for receiving said gas and a second opening therein which is spaced from said first opening; a second, smaller chamber adjacent said second opening in said first chamber and operative to receive a chosen highly reactive liquid material; and means between said first and second chambers and aligned with said second opening in said first chamber for injecting said liquid into said first chamber in the form of an aerosol spray where said aerosol spray reacts with said gas to form a solid reaction product which deposits on the inner surfaces of said first chamber and to generate a partial vacuum in said first chamber and thereby provide for said removing of said selected gas from said container.